10.5.5.2 Final Report of Subanen Zamboanga Del Sur

Phase II Documentation of Philippine Traditional Knowledge and Practices on Health and
Development of Traditional Knowledge Digital Library on Health for Selected

Ethnolinguistic Groups: The SUBANEN people of Salambuyan, Lapuyan, Zamboanga del
Sur
REPORT PREPARED BY:

Marilou C. Elago, Western Mindanao State University, Zamboanga City
Rhea Felise A. Dando, University of the Philippines Manila, Ermita, Manila
Jhoan Rhea L. Pizon, Western Mindanao State University, Zamboanga City
Rainier M. Galang, University of the Philippines Manila, Ermita, Manila
Isidro C. Sia, University of the Philippines Manila, Ermita, Manila
2013
Summary
An ethnopharmacological study of the Subanen was conducted from May 2012 to May
2013. The one-year study included documentation primarily of the indigenous healing
practices and ethnopharmacological knowledge of the Subanen. The ethnohistorical
background of the tribe was also included in the study. The study covered the Barangay
Salambuyan, Zamboanga del Norte.
A total of 132 plants and 3 other natural products, 7 traditional healers and 3 focus group
discussions in the community were documented. Documentation employed the use of
prepared ethnopharmacological templates which include: medicinal plants and other
natural products, herbarial compendium of selected medicinal plants, local terminology of
condition and treatments, rituals and practices, and traditional healers templates.
Immersion in the community was the primary method employed. Interview and participantobservation, and forest visits were utilized to gather data. Focus group discussions were also
done as a form of data validation. Formalized informed consent for this study was asked
from National Commission of Indigenous People, barangay officials, and from different key
individuals prior to the documentation and collection of medicinal plants.
DOCUMENTATION OF PHILIPPINE TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES ON HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE DIGITAL
LIBRARY ON HEALTH FOR SELECTED ETHNOLINGUISTIC GROUPS: THE SUBANEN PEOPLE OF SALAMBUYAN, LAPUYAN, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR
1 Introduction
The University of the Philippines Manila, through the National Institutes of Health Institute
of Herbal Medicine and College of Medicine (Department of Pharmacology) has an ongoing
study on the documentation of the traditional knowledge on health and health practices of
selected Philippine ethnolinguistic groups. This was supported by the Philippine Council for
Health Research and Development and the University of the Philippines Manila.
In 2012 to 2013 an ethno-pharmacological study on the three sites of the Subanen tribes of
the Zamboanga Peninsula was conducted by a research team from the University of the
Philippines Manila in collaboration with the Western Mindanao State University through the
College of Science and Math Deans Office. The project was subsidized by the Philippine
Council for Health Research and Development and the Institute of Herbal Medicine.
Background and significance
The Philippines is one of the richest countries in terms of culture diversity, as well as of
biodiversity. There are 110 indigenous communities and more than 170 ethnolinguistic
groups in the country. Among these are the Subanens of the Zamboanga Peninsula which is
the subject of our contention. They form part of the Lumad Group of Mindanao.
Mindoro groups
Palawan groups
Lumad
Muslim groups
Alangan
Batak
Subanen
Maranao
Bangon
Cuyonon
Manobo
Maguindanao
Buhid
Tagbanwa
Mandaya
Yakan
Hanunuo
Palawano
B'laan
Tausug
Iraya
T'boli
Sama
Tadyawan
Hignon
Jama Mapun
Tau-Buid
Teduray
Ratagnon
Table 1. A list of some Philippine ethnolinguistic groups
Each indigenous or local community possesses a unique body of traditional knowledge and
practices which have been developed throughout centuries of use and passed down to
succeeding generations. This information base continuously evolves, adapting to changes in
a community's culture and environment. It also includes the peoples' wealth of knowledge
in health and healing. The communities, characteristically living in the mountains or their
fringes, have depended mostly on plants and other natural products from the forest to
prevent or treat sickness. But environmental degradation and the onslaught of lowland
mainstream cultures now threaten their healing traditions.
The culture of wealth of the people is inextricably tied to the rich biodiversity of their
ancestral lands.
The loss of biodiversity to rampant logging, mining, and other environmental atrocities
undoubtedly has an immense impact on the cultural wealth of our indigenous peoples and
local communities. Lifestyle change as a result of displacement from their ancestral domains
and lack of supportive mechanisms to pass on knowledge are leading to the discontinuance
of their traditional healing practices.
A systematic and comprehensive endeavor to assist communities in documenting and
upholding their healing traditions may be valuable in confronting this situation. The
documentation previously done is not enough to cover the breadth and depth of the
immense body of Philippine traditional knowledge and practices in health.
Another threat faced by indigenous and local communities is bio-piracy or the
misappropriation of their knowledge and resources. In 1985, the estimated market value of
plant-based medicines sold in developed countries already reaches $43 billion but less than
1 percent of the profits were returned to the knowledge owners. Pharmaceutical, food,
and cosmetic industries benefit from the wealth of their knowledge and environment yet
only a few have acted upon the loss of the traditional knowledge, practices, and biological
resources of the communities. Facilitating community documentation may then be a
method to uphold the rights of the knowledgeowners as they are able to manage gathered
data and assert their right to free and prior informed consent, proper acknowledgement,
and equitable sharing of benefits in the utilization of their knowledge.
In this project, communities who will be trained in documenting their knowledge and
practices may opt to:
a) Keep gathered data within the community.
b) Share selected data with a research institution with set mechanisms to protect
community owned knowledge, this data will not be disclosed without prior informed
consent of the community, and/or
c) Share selected information which may be publicly disclosed and inputted in a
Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), similar to the TKDL model of India.
This national electronic database is a modern method of protecting our cultural heritage as
old and new documentation on traditional knowledge in health are gathered and encoded
into a digital format. Should traditional knowledge accessed in the TKDL be used for further
scientific studies, the individual or agency will be linked to the knowledge owner
community to whom they should secure free and prior informed consent. Eventual product
development shall call for discussion and agreements on appropriate access and equitable
benefit-sharing.
The digital library will also provide currently available information gathered from previous
work by other researchers and scholars. Selected information from available literature on
early ethno botanical studies, mostly done by American and Filipino scholars, as well as
traditional healing knowledge from old lexicographic and linguistic documentation of
Spanish writers may be included.
This undertaking shall involve many institutions.
A memorandum of understanding among the cooperating institutions is being finalized. The
set of duties of each institution, including technical and financial contributions, is defined in
the MOU.
To be able to cover the different ethno-linguistic groups across the country, partnerships
with regional agencies will be formed. Individuals from the institutions will be trained to
facilitate the documentation and protection of the communities' health knowledge and
practices.
A pilot study funded by the PCHRD has been completed. From this pilot study in an Ayta
community in Quezon Province, we were able to develop data-gathering instruments. The
prototype research protocol and data-gathering instruments will be openly shared to groups
interested in this undertaking.
Objectives
Pre-documentation Stage
1. To identify and select ethno-linguistic groups and study communities based on
established criteria
2. To identify and link up with research partners in the different regions
3. To orient and train project team in facilitating participatory research
4. To conduct consensus
recommendations
building
with
communities
and
integrate
their
5. To prepare the research agreement and obtain Free and Prior Informed Consent
6. To prepare the database design of the digital library
Documentation Stage
1. To facilitate in building the communities' capacity for research
2. To document with the communities their traditional knowledge and practices in
health
3. To collect herbarium specimen together with the communities, with their consent
4. To assist in developing mechanisms for protection of the community's traditional
knowledge, practices and biological resources
5. To monitor project implementation and ensure that researchers abide by the Code
of Ethics
Post-documentation stage
1. To assess and validate with the communities the gathered data
2. To select with the community information which may be inputted in the digital
library
3. To prepare a hard copy of the documentation and herbarium collection with and for
the communities and if applicable, to the regional research partner
4. To develop culture-sensitive health education materials with and for the
communities
5. To evaluate the project with the community
6. To establish gene bank in the communities, research partner in the region, and in UP
Los Baos, with the community's permission
7. To centralized data for the national digital library
8. To implement the database design of the digital library
9. To establish measures for appropriate access to traditional knowledge and equitable
sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of the said knowledge
10. To promote communities' rights to their traditional knowledge, practices and
resources
11. To promote the use of relevant information/use of the digital library to the
indigenous and local communities, local health NGOs, local environment advocates,
local cultural workers, the scientific community, and policy makers
Methodology
Site selection
The Zamboanga Peninsula was the identified area of study which is where the Subanen tribe
resides. Three areas were selected based on the distinct differences in the dialect each
group speaks and the distinct practices that each follows as a result of spatial differences.
There are those coming from the Western coast of Zamboanga City, or the Subanons of
Malayal, Sibuco, the central Subanons of Mandih in Sindangan Zamboanga del Norte as well
as those coming from the eastern part or the Subanens of Lapuyan, in Zamboanga del Sur.
These communities all possess the following basic requisites:
1. a reputation for indigenous healing practices as evidenced by the presence of
traditional healers.
2. Richness of the biodiversity of the ancestral domain of the people.
3. Willingness and capacity of the community to participate.
4. Presence of peace and order in the community.
For purposes of this write-up, only the Subanen of Barangay Salambuyan of the Municipality
of Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur is considered in this book which is the first of the three
areas selected.
Selection of key informants

Preliminary Phase
Figure 1. Picture of the researchers with the regional director of the NCIP, IX
Approval and access considerations
This stage involved meetings with the National Commission for Indigenous People for the
Free and prior Informed consent to be granted in order for the study to commence. Also,
several courtesy calls to barangay officials, school heads, purok leaders and known relatives
and neighbours of healers. It strategized to pinpoint the most knowledgeable, trusted, local
Subanen who speaks the dialect and is educated. For Zamboanga City, given the language
barriers, one has to be multi-lingual especially where Chavacano, Bisaya, tagalog and English
is concerned. Other basic considerations include his or her:
1. position in the community
2. knowledge of the residence of and personal acquaintance with the healers
3. availability during the time of the research study
4. willingness to serve even for a short period of time

5. ability to work in a team with diverse culture and attitude
After repeated search, by the process of addition and elimination, talking to
housewives, by-standers and barangay kagawads, informants were identified following
the criteria set. The informants were actually active in traditional healing. Some
informants like the elders and housewives or family caregivers were themselves
interviewed about traditional medicine. There were thirteen (11) informants
interviewed, six (7) of which are healers.
Data gathering
The research used the qualitative purposeful sampling method where the researchers
intentionally selected individuals and sites to learn and understand the central phenomenon
on the traditional knowledge and healing practices of the Subanen of Lapuyan. It involved
casual conversation, life history and life-cycle interview, key informant ( participant )
interview, semi-structured interview, ethno-genealogy, questionnaire, observation, focus
group interview, elicitation techniques where researchers use scrapbooks to elicit the
names of plants and uses, audio or visual recording, such as camera recording, spatial
mapping to record ways why data varies, such as in groups and institutions. The most
commonly applied of all is fieldwork.
Fieldwork
In this setting, the researchers collected data by spending time at the participants sites
where they live, work and do leisure activities.
Figure 2. An interview with Mr. Francis Duhaylungsod, an incharge of the Department of

Tourism (left); the house where the researchers lives
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To understand best the patterns of the Subanens culture, the researcher-ethnographer

spent considerable time with the group. The patterns were not easily discerned through
questionnaires or brief encounters. Instead, the ethnographer went to the field lives
with or frequently visits the Subanen being studied and slowly learned the cultural ways in
which the participants behave or think.
The researchers used interview guide questions for the ethnography of the study area; local
name of a plant, its use/s, plant part/s used method of preparation, and direction for
application.
Collection of specimens
Preparation of materials for plant collection and preservation
Materials like Manila paper and wooden pressers were made ready for purposes of
collection, segregation, lay-outing and classification and transport to the laboratory and the
museum for validation of scientific nomenclature and description.
Review of literature
From the journal written by Janie Grace H. Hapalla (2002), The term Subanen is derived
from the word suba meaning river, mouth of the river, or upstream. Subanens
generally refer to themselves as a whole as the gbansa Subanen, meaning the Subanen
nation. They distinguish themselves from each other by their roots or point of origin. These
are based on names of rivers, lakes, mountains, or locations. Therefore you are getaw
dibaloy if you are from the other side of the river, getaw dibaba if you are from
downstream. You are also getaw tasan if you are from a place quite far. Prior to the naming
of municipalities, the people were either getaw Dumenghilas, those from around
Dumangkilas Bay and the Dumankilas River, getaw Sibuguey, those from around Sibuguey
River and Sibuguey Bay, or getaw Belengasan, from around Balangasan River (now
Pagadian), or getaw Thebed , those coming from the river of Thebed (Labangan). You will
also hear getaw Sindangan, for those coming from around the Sindangan River, getaw
Ranaw, referring to the Subanens of Lakewood and getaw Melindang, referring to those
from Mt. malindang, Misamis Occidental. Getaw means people or people of. The
dialects differ in words pronunciation, although in some instances the words may take on
different meanings. For example, the h in Mahalambas is pronounced as a k in
Makalambas by the people of Lakewood.
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The farther away geographically they are from each other, the less likely for them to
understand each other. Thus the Subanen spoken in Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte cannot be
understood by those from Lapuyan, Margosatubig, and the rest of Baganian Peninsula are
nearly identical (Hapalla, 2002).
Another factor is the influence of other dominant linguistic groups. The Subanon of Malayal,
Sibuco (Zamboanga del Norte) and Labuan, Patalon, and the surrounding areas in
Zamboanga City are influenced by the Zamboangueno language (Chavacano) because of the
close proximity to Zamboanga City. The Subanon of the Baliguian and Siocon, and the
Subanen of Sindangan, Malindang, and Zamboanga del Sur are influenced by Cebuano
(Hapalla, 2002).
The Subanen of Malayal, Sibuco, Siocon and Bakalan differ from the Subanen of Sindangan,
Tuboy, Salug, Manukan, Siayan, There is yet another dialect spoken in the Mt. Malindang
aream Tambulig and Dumingag. Still another is the Dumalinao, Lakewood, Sibugay dialect,
which is in use in the Lapuyan-Margosatubig-Dinas and the Buug-Kabasalan areas (Hapalla,
2002).
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2 The land and the people

The province of Zamboanga is composed of eight municipalities namely, Dapitan, Dipolog,
Kabasalan, Katipunan, Margosatubig, Pagadian, Sindangan, Siocon, and the city of
Zamboanga to which Basilan group of islands once belonged.
On July 6, 1952, Republic Act No. 711 divided Zamboanga into two. Zamboanga Del Sur
became a separate province which has one city and 26 municipalities. Through the
Executive Order No. 273 on October 16, 1957 by President Carlos P. Garcia, Lapuyan
became a municipality. It started to function as a corporate municipality on January 11,
1958 with Coco Sia as the first appointed Mayor. On April 21, 1958, Lapuyan was formally
inaugurated. The Municipality of Lapuyan is located in the Southern Section of the Province
of Zamboanga del Sur. It is bounded in the East by Municipality of San Miguel and Guipos,
North of Municipality of Tigbao and Lakewood, North-west by Municipality of Kumalarang,
Southeast by the Municipality of Margosatubig.
Figure3. Map showing the location of Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur

Salambuyan, the study area, is the second of the twenty six barangays of Lapuyan, the first
from the main road being barangay Bulawan.
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Figure 5. Map Showing the Location of Barangay Salambuyan
According to the 2013 census, the community is composed of 206 houses made mostly of
light materials, with a population of one thousand sixty two (1,062) residents where five
hundred twenty three (523) are males and five hundred thirty nine (539) are males. Majority
(70%-80%) of the residents speak in vernacular while the remaining twenty percent (20%)
understand Subanen but converse in Visayan dialect.
14
Access to the area

To reach Salambuyan, one has to take a one (1) hour and a half (1/2) ride either by single
motorcycle or habal-habal built to sustain travel in a very rocky road such as the first 8
kilometres towards the center of Salambuyan.
Before a stranger can engage with any locals, a good visit like a courtesy call to the officials
of the municipality especially the mayor is equated to respect and literally access. In this
visit, the intent of the researchers is articulated and the latter has to wait for the go signal
from the powers that be. The moment clearance is given, it goes without saying that access
to key informants are practically granted. It is here where negotiated data are spelled out
like the information that the participant and the researcher agree to use in the study. Here
agreements are made regarding entry procedures to the research sites, mutually respecting
individuals at the site and developing a plan for giving back or reciprocating with the
individuals.
Climate
During the months of September to April, Salambuyan experiences pheres (dry season) and
it experiences dlebok (rainy/wet season) on the months of May to August.
Some local terms related to weather include: rain (dupi), thunder (dlogon), lightning (bethek
delalak), hot (minit), bagyo (badyu), baha (bah), rain shower (theliti), ulan-init (phosilaw),
and linog (dlinog).
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3 Historical perspective of Lapuyan and Salambuyan

Lapuyan comes from the Subanen word dlepuyan or pegepuyan which means a place for
cooking. During hunting season, it was said that hunters would cook their food and take a
nap on the river bank of Thubig- gepuyan, which led to the name of Lapuyan River.
The place was visited by foreigners who made and left significant impacts on the village. In
1904, it was visited by General Leonard Wood who was the governor of the Moro Province.
The place was also visited by Emerson Brewer Christie, an American ethnologist.
The ancestors of the Subanen in Lapuyan also experienced wars and migrations with the
Moros of the past centuries. But any form of harm has been thwarted by the powerful
thimuays under the leadership of Thimuay Mbeng.
Figure 6. Timuay Langhap Lantoy L. Imbing, a descendant of Thimuay Mbeng
As for the name of Salambuyan, an American (called by the Subanen as Kasila) who came
from Dinas, Zamboanga del Norte was met by a Subanen and each time the Subanen would
say Shalam which meant shake hands. The Kasila asked the name of the place while
pointing to the plants. The Subanen answered, Sibuyan, thinking that the Kasila was
asking for the name of the plants which were the Sibuyan. The Kasila combined Shalam and
Sibuyan which led to the present name.
16
Religion
According to Kimberly Apatan, Christianity was introduced to Lapuyan in 1912 and by 1928
was received as the religion of the tribe through the pronouncement of the tribal leader
Datu Lemok Imbing.
Figure 7. Datu Lemok Imbing, a Subanen chieftain who in 1928 pronounced Alliance
as the religion of the tribe
It is written in past studies (Apatan, 2012) that the Spaniards never invaded Lapuyan.
Accordingly, the first missionaries to visit the village of Thimuay Mbeng, the highest official
of the tribe during the olden days, were Rev. David Lund and his wife Hulda Lund. In 1914,
another missionary arrived by the name of Rev. Samuel DeWitt Lommasson who stayed for
three decades with the tribe. He is responsible for the conversion of residents to the
Alliance religion.
17
Education
Before the opening of public schools among the Subanens, the young girls were trained to
weave clothes and the young boys were trained by the fathers to weave baskets and other
handicraft made of wood and rattan. Some boys were trained to be blacksmiths to make
farm implements and weapons such as spears and bolos (Imbing, 2002).
With the coming of American missionaries in 1912, the great majority of Subanens,
especially the Subanen of Lapuyan, accepted Christianity, which spread to all the Subanens
in the Zamboanga Peninsula. With the opening of the public school in Lapuyan, Zamboanga
del Sur in 1919, many of the Subanens went to school and their lifestyle had greatly
improved. Today, there are many professional Subanens here and abroad (Imbing, 2002).
Figure 8. Salambuyan Elementary School celebrates their 15th Closing Ceremony with their
dear Barangay Captain, Hon. Alvin Galanan (second from the right)
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Language
According to the journal written by Hapalla (2002), the Subanen language has several
dialects. Although some linguists may differ, I would submit that there are three separate
languages: (1) the Subanon spoken by the people of Malayal, Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte
and Bakalan, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, (2) the Subanun spoken by the Tuboy-Siayan,
Zamboanga del Norte and the surrounding area, and (3) the Subanen spoken in LapuyanMargosatubig, Zamboanga del Sur. Lapuyan Subanen has six-vowel language.
It has twenty two consonants. Unique to the language is the aspirated p, k, t and s, which
are not found in other Philippine languages. Initial consonant clusters are present, which are
noun and adjective markers.
Another feature worth mentioning is the presence of noun classifiers, a feature
characteristic of Indonesian languages. An example is the word lad, which goes with a
numeral and a noun. With the use of the word lad, you are given the signal that the
following noun should have the feature of being flat, as in paper (Hapalla, 2002).
It is assumed that once upon a time there was only one language, but through the course of
time, the language developed into dialects. They split into the o and the e (the /schwa/).
Thus the people from Siocon and Malayal of Zamboanga del Norte have the tendency to
sound the e, as for example in, Subanon for Subanen (Hapalla, 2002).
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4 Material culture
Food
Rice
The Subanen of Salambuyan, like other tribes, eats rice as their principal food. Some buy
rice from the stores nearby their houses. Also, they obtain this staple food from stores of
Poblacion and of Bulawan. Some acquire rice from Pagadian City. Others with rice field
obtain their food after harvesting.
Practices associated with rice planting to reduce worm infestation include the use of stalks
of biga and trunks of pitogo, dlih, and totula. These stalks and trunks are piled along the
four corners surrounding the rice field.
Root crops
In the absence of rice, they settle themselves for root crops like sweet potato (ghubi), gabi
(gabi), cassava (bhenggala), and ghelot. These crops are usually boiled after being
collected, except for ghelot.
Ghelot is a vine with thorny stem and rough leaves. It has lots of storage roots which can be
an alternative for rice. They gather, clean, and slice the roots to smaller sizes. They add salt
while crushing the roots with their hands. For a big basin of roots, a kilogram of salt is
needed. They put the roots in a sack before bringing to the river. At the river, they crush the
roots using their feet. Then, they lay and leave the sack in a portion of the river where water
is not too abundant and secure it with a stone. On the third day, they mash the roots by
their feet and they squeeze the crushed roots to get rid of the juice. They then cook it with
coconut milk and sugar.
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Figure 9. Herbal plant ghelot (Dioscorea hispida Dennt.) which the Subanen also use as a
substitute for rice
Vegetable
The Subanen are fond of eating vegetables to stay healthy and fit. Some of which are the
stalk and leaves of gabi (gabi), malunggay (kamonggay), eggplant (thelong), ampalaya
(puliya), squash (bhebasal), sweet camote shoot (ghekbos ghubi), white squash (dlabo),
and patola (tikwa).
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Figure 10. Some of the vegetables eaten by the Subanen, sweet camote shoot (ghekbos
ghubi) on the left and malunggay (kamonggay) on the right
Seafood
The usual marine products they consume are fish (sera), shrimps (gulang), and squids
(khenoos). They eat this seafood purely or mixed with vegetables.
Foods for special occasions

Phetanod or Baptismal
The Baptismal Rite is considered a sacred practice among the members of the tribe. It is
usually scheduled at the time of infancy of the child but is also being performed for grownup members especially in cases of religious conversions. The host family serves different
kinds of viands out of pork, lechon baboy, rice, cake, and soft drinks. They can serve lesser
or as much as these food depending on their desire and budget.
Gbla-i (bla-i) or Wedding
The union between man and wife is an occasion of great joy and pride. The community
celebrates together with the families of the groom and the bride. A Wedding banquet is not
complete without the usual Pangalay or Wedding Dance that is performed during the
ceremony involving only the couple.
22
After the ceremony, they enjoy the banquet having viands like meat balls, lechon manok,
lechon baboy with a boiled egg in its mouth, whole chicken tinola (tinibok manok); rice;
pasta like spaghetti and macaroni salad; dessert like cake and soft drinks. This is in contrast
with the Subanen long ago who had only lechon baboy tenola baboy, whole chicken tinola
tinibok manok, rice, and gasi or the rice wine.
Wake and Interment

During a wake, biscuits, breads, biko, suman, coffee are served to the relatives and friends
while telling stories and playing cards.
After the burial, types of viands out of pork and rice are served to the relatives and visitors
who accompanied the family on the deceaseds last and final destination.
Clothing
Dlahu Subanen (Subanen dress), dlahu maguindanao (Maguindanao dress) and tapis as the
lower dress were their clothing during special events. Dlahu Subanen (silk upper dress) and
tapis made of phulaw or woven abaca fiber were worn by women in the historic days. Other
types of dresses were ginulong, shininah (a dress like the Chinese dress) and dlahu getaw
melindang. At this time, these clothing can be seen worn by a Subanen during cultural
shows or special occasions.The upper garments of the male is called paleheb which is color
black while for female is called ginulong and shininah. The clothes are embroidered with
symbols: butterfly for female and eagle for male. Other portions of the cloth are decorated
with hemming symbolic of nature such as flowers, mountain and river. These garments are
paired with black trousers for male and phulaw, a skirt made of abaca fiber for female.
Subanens are known to work in the fields or by river so both female and male wear a
colourful handkerchief on their heads as a protection from the sun. Thulapok is the term for
male handkerchief which is worn as a head gear in a triangular shape while therung is used
by female that is simply wrapped around their head to keep their ears from showing.
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Figure 11. Subanen children wearing their Subanen costume

According to Timuay Sacheuz I. Bayamban, the symbol to be embroidered on ones dress
can be chosen by him or it depends on the imagination of the mhemenie, the one who
embroiders. The symbol of an eagle wing is a design of Datu Lemok Imbing wherein the
head is the head of the person wearing the garment.
Houses
Mostly, it is the sole responsibility of the male to build their house. Past Subanen houses
greatly varies from the houses of today. Olden days houses are very simple- with no distinct
divisions for a living room, dining room, and bed room. Unlike these days, some of them
have houses that are divided into specified rooms and they use imported or different
materials.
The houses of the olden days and of the present significantly differ on the materials they
use to build it. Gone were the stem of rattan (guway) used for putting and tying together
the parts of a house, the ghenaya which made up their wall, bamboo or coconut timber as
their floor and stairs, and the gegi which was the main material for their roof. The Subanen
of today uses nails to put up houses, bamboo or wood for their walls and stairs, and nipa
leaves or galvanized sheets for their roof.
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Figure 12. A typical Subanen house
Music
Nowadays according to Racquel b. Georsua (2002), the Subanen keep alive a traditional,
indigenous music culture as they continue to perform their traditional practices, rituals, and
celebrations. They use music in varying forms during rituals and celebration.
She also added that the celebrations are essentially events where both young and old show
off their talents and release their energies and inhibitions (as they are known to be a shy
people) as they join in the different performances, competitions, and games. All the
members of the community attend in their finest attire and bring their own musical
instruments and dance paraphernalia, such as the shield (dlasag), dried rattan leaves
(kumpas), and kerchief (monsala).
Moreover, she said that it is a family unit which initiates and sponsors any of these religious
and social gatherings, which are the occasions for the use of music. The family thus plays a
critical role in the passing on of the music culture. Musical ensembles, for the most part, are
usually made up of members of one family and musical learning takes place within the
family. Even before children learn to talk and walk, training of young family members in
singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments already starts at home by means of their
listening to and imitating their elders music.
Physical instruments and paraphernalia used in the practices, rituals, and celebrations are
from the natural resources of the community, such as bamboo, wood, animal skin, sea
shells, beeswax, coconut shells, leaves and stones.
25
This is also true in the case of musical instruments. The regular or irregular repetitive
rhythm of the gongs, bamboo zither (segitan, thambobok), wooden-slit drum or mortar
(kinlesung,dlesung or lulugan), bamboo and wooden shakers and clappers (buhahay and
taha-taha)- all produce sounds that recall nature and the Subanen environment (Georsua,
2002).
Agricultural activities could also figure in Subanen music. For example, the shaking and
clicking sounds of agricultural sound-producing dibbles- such as the orok, taha-taha, and
buhahay as well as the short lines they adopt from the brisk and lively melody of the epic
Gambatuto- all synchronize (sagab-sagab) the snappy movements of boring and filling holes
for planting. Thus, workers are inspired and entertained while working (Georsua, 2002).
Subanen music is highly patterned, regular and redundant, yielding stable structures which
identify, correspond to or otherwise reinforce the core structures of their society, and
represent patterns of interpersonal relationships which are fundamental in their various
forms of social organization (Georsua, 2002).
Subanen music consists of vocal and instrumental music that are performed separately on
specific occasions. The two media are never combined: vocal music is always
unaccompanied, while instrumental music is danced but never sung (Georsua, 2002).
Vocal music is divided into ritual and non-ritual. Ritual songs involve communication with
the supernatural through the chanting of prayers, invocations, incantations, and
supplications to the spirits, whom the Subanen believe control their lives and destinies.
Non-ritual songs on the other hand are purely for entertainments that enable the singer to
express his or her feelings in a relatively free and improvisatory manner (Georsua, 2002).
Lastly, music is used in the tradition of their almost lost art of abaca-weaving, which
provides total picture of the high levels of Subanen craftsmanship and intelligence, and
which particularly demonstrates the role of women in Subanen culture- with their very
strong sense of of power, authorship and command of their rich forest sources. To entertain
themselves while weaving, the women sing epics, myths, and legends, engage each other in
verbal duelling songs, riddles, and rhymes; others play solo instruments while resting
(Georsua, 2002).
Instruments
Khotet, kuhbing, tanggab, tumpong, gbasal, gagung, khutapi, and tangheb were the
instruments used by the Subanen long time ago. Khotet is a two-stringed instrument with a
body which is made either from the skin of puffer fish, devil fish, monitor lizard, or snake.
Kubing, on the other hand, is made of bamboo which was used by lovers to deliver coded
messages. Tangheb is like a drum which is hollow and wooden covered by skin of animals.
26
Figure 13. Musical Instruments Used by the Subanen of Lapuyan

Until now, gagung (gong) is an instrument being used by the Subanen for several occasions.
The gbebelu beat is used when a family or household is in distress, like when attacked by
enemies, the passing away of a loved one or when a member is ill. It is also used during
funerals or when a member has difficulty breathing, the gathering of close relatives and
community leaders, or every break of dawn and every coming of dusk. Another beat is
called thawag-thawag which is used when the thimuay calls for a meeting or consultation
with the residents. The beat differs depending on whether it is a religious ceremony or a
healing ritual.
Arts
The Subanen used to weave abaca locally called as phulaw for belts which the local
residents call kandit. Included in this section are the figurines, hats, shelayan or the
swinging platform , mascara, gbeban, nigo, bhelanan (a basket made up of nito, rattan, and
bamboo), delos (basket-like structure which is square-shaped at the bottom which made up
of the same material as in making mats), and dlebondyot (delos) with strings from false
rattan for carrying).
27
Figure 14. A swinging platform called shelayan (left), dlebondyot (upper right), and figurines
(lower right)
Dances
Subanens have three distinct dances. These are the sot, thelak, and pangalay,
Sot a dance performed by a male with a dlasag, a long shield

Thelak- this is executed by female with two curled and cimpled rattan
Pangalay- a courtship dance of Subanen
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Figure 15 Glimpse of courtship dance
There are different dances that can be formed by either sot or thelak like sot/thelak di
phegayapan (worship dance), sot di pagbunwan (a dance using spear, for offense and
defense), and sot/thelak di khinlesong (a dance in a khinlesong, a thanksgiving festival).
Songs
Subanen has different types of songs, which are the following:
Bombong- lullaby
Gbayuk- love song
Pathedil and diena- debate songs of children
Dlonli- adult song of Subanen
Diamatan- singing games
Gabenaben- song of nature
During programs and activities, the Subanen sang the national anthem using their
dialect.
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DLUPA DLELAMEN
(Lupang Hinirang)
Dlupa Dlelamen, Muntya a di shilangan;
Shamaya name, dlelamen di palin
Dlupa melengas, gbenwa nu nga gembelo
Di hepegbuno, ndai khendehanan.
Su dagat muha su gbentud, su dlangit muha su nga gyup;
Su he sindag bu bantay mu mesige su helonen en
Mba petasen su phandi, ghilelanan di hepagen mu
Su nga gbitun, muha gendaw, mesiba l phalas en.
Dlupa matalisan, dlupa phadlelamen;
Melengas thandeng l ngalan mu,
Shapa name mba dun medlat dini-a;
Sampay hepatay nyawa begay name.
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5 Economic status
Subanen mainly rely on farming and kaingin as their main source of income and food. They
usually plant rice, corn, sweet potato, gabi, banana, cassava, and fruit trees. They also plant
coconut trees. They sell their yields to earn a living and they also get their food from it. They
have their own land baul where they plant. Despite of having their own lands, they are
facing economic instability because of fluctuating prices of crops.
Figure 16. A farmer preparing his insecticides for his rice field
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6 Justice system
The tribal leaders are also the government officials. They are the voice of their community
during the making of policy for their betterment. Guhoms influence is still recognized in the
community although there is a big difference between the status of guhom of yesteryears
and today. During the past, all the guhom would gather on a place whether there is a case
or not. On the other hand, the guhom nowadays only assemble if there is a case. The tribe
still seek the aid of guhom for solving problems. Conflicts first routed to the tribal court. If it
cannot be settled there, it would be brought to the barangays or a higher court.
Social institution
Marriage
According to Hapalla (20012), the Subanen are generally monogamous, but both polygyny
and polyandry are permitted. Divorce is allowed but incestuous relationship is not tolerated.
But when two couple is related, the male should give gellet (payment for breaking blood
relations between the couple).
Traditionally, marriages may happen according to different cases:
a. Gembay- by mutual consent of the contracting parties. The man asks the hand of the
woman for marriage.
b. Gumbay- the man desires the marriage and asks for the womans hand.
c. Dlusud- a case wherein the man wants to marry the woman, but either the woman
or her parents is/are against the marriage. The man will go to the house of the
woman and will not leave unless he is allowed to marry the latter.
d. Guli- the woman forces a man to marry her and will declare that she will not leave
until a marriage will take place.
e. Thangag- a case where a man and a woman elopes.
f. Pegbya-an- arranged marriage by the parents and is against the will by either or both
man and woman.
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Nowadays, Subanen wedding happens in the church. They recognized church wedding is
sacred and formal. However, Subanen in Lapuyan still practices tribal wedding but with
alterations. According to Kimberly Apatan, in the 21st century, bina (pamalaye and/or
marital engagement) is still commonly adhered in Lapuyan, although some modification is
already apparent. It no longer observes the traditional singing, wearing of tribal dress, and
long settlement of both party. Bina is consummated with the performance of dega (blood
sacrifice). The couple is now free to cohabit and be recognized by the community as
husband and wife even before the day of gbla-i or wedding.
In bina, a long, tiresome process is required. The mans family and the guhom of his
community meet the girls to negotiate. When the agreement is clear to both parties, the
man can now prepare the banquet. The mans side arrives at 8 oclock in the morning to
prepare for the celebration at 4 oclock in the afternoon.
Polygamy
It was written by Apatan (2012) that polygamy was practiced by the wealthy Subanen in
Lapuyan. Having several wives and children serves as the basis for the status symbol of a
man, especially for a thimuay. This would serve as basis if he could be capable of handling
his men properly. By having a good relationship among his household, he said to be a good
leader for his tribe
Presently, polygamy (a state where a man have more than one wife at the same time) was
abolished by Alliance church and tribal laws. But as part of the tradition, polygynous still
exists with the approval of the guhom. In the case of polygyny, the first wife has the highest
status among the family. Although the husband provides different rooms for the wives, the
wives treat each other as sisters and help each other on household chores and nurse each
other when sick. In Lapuyan, the common form of polygyny is sororal where a mans wives
are blood related, either as sisters or cousins.
Also, a woman having more than one husband or polyandry was also a Subanen practice
but is very rare today. Formerly, when two men, either brothers or best of friends, who
were economically incapable, could agree to marry one woman and they must share the
dowry as well as the burden of earning a living. This kind of polyandry is the fraternal type
where the husbands are brothers.
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Accordingly, polyandry exists because of the following reasons:

a. Economic reason- the husband is unable to provide the needs of his family, so he will
bless the desire of his relative to be the other man. The first husband could not leave
his wife because of the children.
b. Sexual needs- the husband can no longer grant the sexual needs of his wife
c. Offspring- the husband is not capable to give a child and will make an agreement to
his relative to give his wife a child or children
Divorce
If a husband and wife desire for divorce, the case will be headed by a thimuay through a
verbal agreement. If the wife is the one who wishes for a separation, she will pay tholak in
which the amount depends on the thimuay. If her husband wants her to stay with him, he
doubles the tholak. The thimuay will then advice the wife to be with her husband for the
sake of their child/ children. The money they paid will not be given back to them but will be
divided by the thimuay and give to his members.
Otherwise, if the husband would not pay, that only means that he agrees for a divorce. The
thimuay will then decide if he will divide their children. If so, only male/s will stay with the
mother and female/s with the father. There are also instances that the child will decide to
whom they want to stay with.
The grounds for divorce are:
1. Either the husband or the wife hasnt fulfilled his/her duty as a husband/ wife or
as a father/ mother to their children;
2. Lack of household stuffs necessary for everyday living;
3. Going anywhere, as if unmarried;
4. Vices; and
5. Spending money for unessential things like mah-jong, playing cards, cock and
horse fighting
If the two remained unmarried and wishes to have each other again, the thimuay will decide
and this will be agreed upon verbally. Presently, agreements are made through papers.
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Death and burial

If a thimuay, gbelyan, or higher officials died, a gagung in a beat called bhebulo is played as
an announcement. But if an ordinary Subanen died, there is no playing of gagung.
Historically, Subanen do not have coffins out of wood. They have their phelapag which is
made out up of dlih. A withered banana leaf must be placed in one of the underarm of the
deceased. The corpse wrapped with a white cloth would then be laid down in a mat placed
in the phelapag with a metal vertically in line with his spinal column. This will be covered by
a covering also made from dlih. The withered banana leaf and the metal is their way of
preserving the cadaver and the burial can last up to 3-4 night. They wanted to preserve their
corpse because some of the relatives live at a great distance. A failure to inform relative/s
leads to an offense called selaan which will be filed against and will be paid by the
immediate family of the dead. A demand of killing a pig is also possible.
In contrast, nowadays dead body is placed in a coffin made up of wood and the body can
last up to 15 nights because of formalin which is a clear aqueous solution of formaldehyde
containing a small amount of methanol used mainly as preservative.
Widow/widower
A widow or a widower could marry after 1 year. During the olden days, a widower can marry
again after he has performed a dlumpok. Before dlumpok, 7 days from the date of death, he
must spend for a buffet. In dlumpok, the widower ought to disburse `a lot for a feast-like
event and should cement the tomb of his wife. After doing so, he can now ask the
permission of the parents of his wife to re-marry. The parents cannot say no if he has
already done the dlumpok. If he could not stand his obligation during dlumpok, he cant be
able to marry again, or else, he would pay an amount depending on the timuay. This is an
offense called bhengonan minatay.
Leisure
During their free time, past Subanens are fond of playing and put a bet on sipha (a ball
made from rattan), kheles (finger wrestling), thomba (arm wrestling) and mag binti
(leg wrestling). Instead of money, they put their dleriya karaan (antique bowl) and/or
bhendi (jar) as their bet.
At the present time, Subanen are engage on technologies like cellular phones, computers,
televisions, and radio as their bhelang-bhelangan (libangan in Tagalog) Some plays
basketball, and childrens play hide and seek and patintero.
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7 Beliefs and practices (Hapalla, 2002)

Subanens believe in a Supreme Being called Diwata Migbebeya. He is the Unseen and the
Creator of everything. They also believe in a guardian spirit called Medlengaw. There are
gods other than these, like for example the god of the gbeklug, whose name people will not
mention without first putting their hands on top of the head as a sign of reverence and will
never mentioned at night. There are diwata. They are worshipped in fear and reverence.
Usually the worship goes with the moon, from the new moon to the full moon. There is a
dancing and the calling of the spirits through the beating of the gongs and porcelain plates,
as well as the burning of incense.
Gods give wisdom and knowledge. They reveal herbal medicines through dreams. In
sances, the gods will reveal themselves and the gmuntya is given. Gmuntya are stones or
calcified objects which are believed to have special powers that will affect the mind of an
individual. This is either given to a person by another human being or by the gods or spirits.
There are all kinds of gmuntya. There is the gmuntya that will make one attractive to the
opposite sex, one that will make a person intelligent, one that will have the power to
overcome ones power to free one from all dangers. Another that will give the power to
overcome ones enemies even causing their sickness or death, one that will assure good
harvest, one that will make another person to become tongue-tied. Each stone has a specific
power. It is not surprising then that you will hear some people carry with them several
stones tied in a red cloth. Sometimes they are tied around the waistline or carried in their
pockets. Once a year they will soak this in blood. Nowadays, it is the blood of a chicken. In
ancient times, it was human blood.
Anybody may have the good fortune of being gifted with a gmuntya. But if one misuses
these, the spirits or gods may take these away. These may work for ones downfall and will
bring sickness or bad luck.
The shaman or gbelyan is believed to have communication or access to the spirit-world. He
heals the sick. He has access to knowledge. If he owns a gbisu, you cannot talk about him at
night because his gbisu will hear you and tell him about it. The gbisu is an unseen being,
visible only to a particular gbelyan.
The gbelyan is known to have in his care spirits that are referred to as gayep. These may
take on the shapes of dogs, cats, or persons. There are as many gayep as there are gbelyan.
Some are more powerful than the others. Gbelyan tests each others power by what they
call sidduran gbulung, where the one who gets sick first is believed to be the weaker.
Subanen believes in the existence of another world not seen by the natural eye. They are
occupied by beings. Some are good, some are not. They inhabit trees such as balete tree, or
rocks, or an area called gmesena dlupa. There are the gmenamad, gmenamand-talun,
shumerep (club-footed beings). They pinch you and you can hear their shouts in the evening
or at dusk, especially when they decide to fish or hunt for seashells.
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The gmemenwa and shamayahan are like human beings. They fall in love with humans and
choose to make themselves visible if they want to. They live on dry land. Their houses are
seen by the humans as trees and rocks. Those that live in the rivers or seas are gmelengma.
They have the ability to seduce humans. Other spirits and beings, which take the shape of
humans, giants, dogs, cattle, horses and cats, are believed to exist also. They need to be
appeased all the time. These are different from the gods which are called diwata.
Belief in the gods and spirits makes the Subanen god-fearing. There is a great respect for the
other and for nature. The early morning and the afternoon mist are signs that Mother Earth
is nursing the ground while the Diwata Migbebeya is busy watching over His Creation.
Gbeklug
According to Apatan (2012), a gbeklug falls under the same pattern of prestigious feasts
practiced in different parts of the country. It is a series of agricultural ritual on the seventh
year and during this long period two gbeklug structures are built.
From a journal (2002) written by Dr. Vicente Imbing, gbeklug has several types. Gbeklug
mangenawa is held for the healing of the ill. Gbeklug pelento is performed in the memory
of a deceased chief. Gbeklug denion is a feast for the final burial of the dead. Gbeklug
preparation take years to prepare the materials needed and to ask permission to the unseen
elements where the gbeklug will be held. The festivity will last for 7 days, all Subanen will
participate and this is considered as merry making or holidays. The people will do nothing
except to drink, eat and chat all day. The feast must delight the spirits in order to avoid the
people fighting each other or turn into stone. Bayamban added gbeklug petaongang is
performed with two dancing platforms.
It takes a minimum of one year to prepare for a becklog menonot. As the final date of the
becklog approaches, several rituals associated with the farming practices of people are
performed.
Preparation starts with the observation of the positioning of the stars. When the cluster of
the stars called polu-polu is directly overhead in the middle of the sunset sky, then the first
ritual is performed. This usually takes place during the month of January and during the full
moon. This ritual is called the canu bitun. It starts with the finding a place where they could
farm. When they find a spot that is suited for farming, they put on that particular area a
Subanen cross called shelansang. Beside the shelensang is palced a small plate which
contains some talon (betel leaves) and maan (betel nut), as peace offering to the spirits
asking them for consent to farm in the area. A white wood called noti is then placed on the
trunk of a big tree that is within the area. If the white wood still remains on the same spot
after a couple of days, then this is the sign that the spirits allow them to farm in the area.
After finding the right place to farm, upon obtaining the consent of the spirits, they then
start clearing the area to make it ready for the planting season. They clear the area during
the months of January and February, and allow the vegetation to dry up in March and April.
37
The burning of the dried leaves and the final clearing is done during the months of April and
May.
Another ritual is performed during the planting season. It is called pagebek. This is done by
stabbing a pig with a spear and then allowing the wounded animal to run around and shed
its blood all over the field. After a while, the animal is killed using sharp poles (called gerek),
which are used to bore holes on the ground where palay (rice) seeds are planted.
The third ritual is the menoyak. This is performed when the rice is green. They put the
shelensang and split bamboos on the sides and corners of the farm. This is meant to block
the entry of bad spirits called mengagaw.
The fourth ritual is kinlesong. This is a very lively celebration, especially among the young
people. This is done when they harvest the half ripe pulot (glutinous rice, also called
malagkit), which is toasted and then pounded into penipi (similar to pop rice). There is a
night of dancing to the sound of gongs as well as the mortar and pestle. Some of the men
and women dance in pairs while the other sing or eat penipi.
The fifth ritual is the kang begu. This is the time to eat the first newly-harvested rice. Pigs or
chicken are butchered, the number depending on how many neighbours are coming to join
the ceremonies. They also eat the newly-harvested rice with ginger and boiled eggs. A
boiled egg is opened; if it is full, then it is believed that there will be another year of good
harvest. For its part, the ginger is a symbol of continued prosperity and blessings, because
even if the ginger is dry, it is still hot. The farm implements, such as the bolo and axe, are
smeared cooked newly-harvested rice so that these could also be part of the ritual.
The sixth ritual is known to be the pheluhob. This ritual lasts for three days. Here the clean
carcass of a pig is hung somewhere in the middle of the house where there are jars of gasi
(rice wine). The ceremonies begin with an offering of food to the departed loved ones and
officials. During this time, clothes are also hung on a line; this is called the canu meluasan.
The belief is that before the spirits partake of the food, they would change their clothes. At
the end of the three-day ceremony, the head of the pig is usuallygiven to the leader or
thimuay who will prepare the next pheluhob.
The Becklog Menonot

The seventh is the final and the greatest festival of all, the becklog menonot. It is considered
as the final one because it carries with it all the minor rituals. This usually takes place in the
month of December or January, when everyone is carefree and not busy with farm work. Is
lasts for seven days. To feed the community and visitors from other villages, several pigs,
cattle and chicken would be butchered. To prepare for this festivity, many jars of gasi (rice
wine) must be obtained, as well as least fifty pigs, twenty cattle, and a hundred chickens.
They also gather several rattan poles and special wood called dlebalod, which is pliant wood
and does not easily snap. These will be used to construct dancing platform about twenty
square meters in size.
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This platform has eight round posts, each about eight to ten inches in diameter and made of
another kind of wood called bahan. It is constructed in such a way that it can move up and
down. The flooring of the platform is made of bamboo poles partially split, spread flat, and
tied with rattan to the dlebalod. In the center of the swinging platform is a pestle. On the
ground underneath the swinging platform is a mortar which is suspended on rattan. Right
underneath the mortar and buried in a hole on the ground is a jar with a wide mouth. As
people start dancing on the platform, the platform goes up and down. The pestle strikes the
mortar (called dlesong) and produces a deep sound. The dancers move in such a way as to
produce a rhythmic beating of the pestle on the mortar. The mortar is made of a special
wood called bayog, which is intended only for becklog; the pestle is also made of a special
wood called manangola.
One of the eight posts that hold up the dancing platform, particularly the one nearest the
entrance of the platform, is the most important. It is called the ginghuran tumayam. This is
the post whee all kinds of ritual charms are applied. It is considered the throne of the
presiding spirit of the big festivity. This post is always lighted throughout the festivities with
a sulo, a splint from the forest.
The opening ceremony is called getaen. This is similar to our modern day ribbon-cutting
ceremony. This involves the cutting of a strip of rattan by the thimuay (chief leader) who is
sponsoring the becklog. Then, the gbelyan (shaman-priest) would go first on the platform
and sing or chant a prayer inviting the spirits from on high to join the celebration. This
prayer or invocation, when done by men, is called megiloy; but if a woman is the one
singing it, it is called memuati. A rattan strip is stretched over every path leading to the
place and shelensang are placed to block the entrance of bad spirits who might destroy the
ceremonies or turn everything and everyone into stone (called beloyen). The gbelyan
incharge of the becklog should always be on the lookout for unusual happenings. The gong
and gendingan should also be continuously sounded to keep the people awake and alert.
In the opening ceremonies, elderly people are then the first ones to dance on the swinging
platform, together with the thimuay and gbelyan. They dance by forming a circle around the
pestle (called the phetaw). The first and opening dance must be solemn. The succeeding
dances are open to all. Usually, it is done in a manner where the innermost circle is made up
of strong men, who would attempt toppling down one another. The second circle is formed
by young men and women who would dance with grace or who would hum while dancing.
The third and outermost circle is formed by children who are dancing on the platform of a
`becklog for the first time in their lives.
The dancing would continue day and night, and everyone is free to stop to eat anytime to
feel hungry. People would take turns dancing on the platform. Young men and women
would get acquainted and in many cases become partners in life.
After three days of dancing, the next ritual is performed. This is called the getas lati. It is
performed in removing some of the wood on the platform and cutting partially some of the
rattan so that the structure will weaken and start to collapse. Then the dancing would
continue until the seventh day, which is the closing of the festivities.
39
The ritual performed during the closing ceremonies is called dlabudon. This is done by
dropping all the leaves (called don) used in wrapping the rice eaten during the seven days of
feeding people. This announces to all the people that the festivity of mass feeding and
dancing is over.
The structure of becklog remains standing and strong enough to hold people for dancing.
Once in a while people from different places would come for merry-making and dance on
the platform until it collapses or destroyed. This is left to collapse naturally. There is a belief
that there are also spirits who come and dance on the platform until it is completely
demolished.
In exceptional cases, such as when the sponsor is wealthy enough, the preparations take
very long. For example, the six preparatory rituals are celebrated one each year for six years.
During this time, they begin raising pigs, chicken, and cattle; they will also prepare several
jars of gasi rice wine. Then on the seventh year, the becklog menonot is finally celebrated.
Two dancing platforms will then be constructed, one on the eastern side of the house and
the other on the western side. This latter one (called the becklog phetoangan) is where the
people would be dancing. The festivity will last for a month. During the festivity, the sponsor
would show his gratitude to Diwata Migbebeya for the showers of blessings received not
only by feeding generously his guests but also by feeding the ants, the fish in the rivers, the
birds in the forest in a ritual called medlumang
Figure 17. A picture of a 5-year old Gbeklug structure located at Poblacion, Lapuyan,
Zamboanga del Sur taken last March 2013
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8 Knowledge and practices on health
Concepts of health and illness

The Subanen people use the term mesiba (healthy), one is healthy when he is mesiba
dlawesin (body is in good state) and mhetaburo (fat). A person is considered melon mesiten
(ill) when he is mhelubey dlawesin (body is weak). Mhelubey is a term used for seriously ill
person and described them as phegetosen where the person is having 50-50 chance of
survival. Phegetos means dying person wherein he is in the state of mhelengen hegene
(difficulty in breathing). One is dead when he is mhengetusan gina (stops breathing). Other
terms they use are ghemay (rice), shaging (banana), mais (corn) and ghubi (sweet potato).
Causes of illness and death
Shinsala (witch) - this are person who used black magic to cause illness to other
people.
Shaetan (unseen elements) this are spirits leave in the forest and inflict
illness when accidentally hit by human being
Maya-maya (dwarf)- there are bad dwarves that will make fun to a man and
can cause diseases to the latter if they are badly hurt even because of their
own doings
Ghepod kora- this is a half man- half horse creature which will eat humans
even they are unharmed.
Other causes
Some illness like cough and cold are due to changing weather. Some are sick or died
because of saled (hilo), age, mans lifestyle, and witchcraft.
Lumay (Potion)
At present, the use of lumay or potion is rarely practiced. Only few Subanen are doing these
without even knowing the exact words used to add power on the potion. Accordingly, there
are five (5) types of lumay:
Kalibagud- this potion is said to have an effect to an angry person
Phugay- this is the love potion
Kalimo- a kind of lumay used to agree on a request
41
Phensalay- this lumay is used for people to like a person
Panantoy- a potion used in hunting wild animals and in fishing
Saled (Hilo)
Saled or poison is a practice to make someone ill or die. This is still exercised today, not only
by older people but by younger ones who are around their 20s or 30s. Mensaled, the one
who practiced saled has reasons in doing this to others. Maybe he doesnt want to be
stepped upon or he doesnt want others to be ahead of him in terms of wealth, wisdom, or
even in physical appearance. In the point of view of some, saled is also a way of defending
ones self from enemies or possible allies. But even its a form of defense, the use of saled is
not advisable and is very frightening.
Accordingly, those mensaleds of Lapuyan today, came from the mountainous area of the
municipality, no religious affiliations, or have a very little faith on the Creator.
People who believe in saled, be it a Subanen or not, take precautionary measures by
carrying a small bottle with lana (coconut oil) mixed with part/s of certain plants. This lana
protects them from being harmed by a mensaled. One can know if a mensaled is nearby
because the lana boils and hence overflow from the pocket.
42
Figure18. Left, a bottle of lana which has a defensive power against saled. It is usually placed
in the pocket to have a direct contact with the person using it, right.
Local terminology of conditions and treatments used by Subanen of Salambuyan
1. Pagan-Chills, headache, fever, weak body and body pain are experience. Carrying heavy
things and washing clothes after giving birth is the said cause of this condition. This can be
diagnosed through observation. Mhendeklepot, dlelupang, abaka, dila-rila, dolamon, dlebok
and decoction of shelapid and mhendeklepot are used as remedies.
2. Pigis-Sudden illness, stomach ache, and back pain are felt by the patient. The caused of
pigis is lamig and accident contact with unseen elements from the forest. This can be
diagnosed through observation. The herbal plants that can be used to treat pigis are Dilarila, thalon, thepalak gulangan and bayabas.
43
3. Himughat-It is because of doing household chores after giving birth or after a recovery
from illness. This condition can be recognized through observation. Selimbangon (black) is
used to treat himughat.
4. Gunossonos (Pasmo-kaon)- Patient experience pain in the pit of the stomach, frequent
vomiting, and headache. In this state it is due to not taking meals on time and can be
recognize through observation. The management used is kakaw.
5. Kabuhi-The patient is nauseous. Not taking meals on time is one of the caused. This can
be diagnosed through observation. Kakaw and gulo-ulo is used to treat kabuhi.
6. Panuhot-Feet get cold, feels something different and the patient will not recover if he
could not fart. Eating different foods and taking meals not on time are the caused of
panuhot. This can be recognized through observation. Thalon leaves are used as a
treatment.
7. Migebasan shiheg or Migelaan Shiheg (Pasmo sa kusog)- Varicose veins, the body is weak
and loss of weight are felt by the patient. Wash the body after doing work or after a long
walk and this can be diagnose through observation. Dluya and dlebulan are used as a
treatment to this condition.
Knowledge and practices on pregnancy and giving birth

To avoid natural abortion, the fetus inside the womb must be in place through hilot. The
pregnant woman should also not carry things to prevent abortion. There is a natural
pampakapit used by the panday tiyan (traditional hilot) of Salambuyan. It is placed on the
waist of the woman and is worn as a belt for 3 nights.
There are old stuffs that they still believe and practice nowadays. One of it is pag lihi. There
are several types of senanan (lihi) to make pregnancy and delivery easy. One is to swallow
seeds of a certain plant on the first month of pregnancy. This is done so that the baby inside
the womb will remain small so that the mother will give birth easily. They also have a lihi to
make the abdomen look small even it is already 6-9 months old which is done during her 1st
month of pregnancy. Another is a senanan (lihi) to stay strong and fit. And even a day after
the delivery, she can do household chores like washing clothes and fetching water.
During pregnancy, she must not eat plenty rice so that the baby would not grow in her
womb which will cause difficulty in giving birth. Fruits, specifically watery fruits are good for
her to eat except those itchy ones.
44
She must not do heavy works so that there would be no complications. She must exercise
for an easy delivery. She should also seek the aid of a panday tiyan in maintaining the right
position of her fetus inside.
Figure 19. A panday tiyan rubbing a liniment made of different types of herbal plants on the
abdomen of a 9 month pregnant woman
At the time of craving, feeling nauseated and vomiting for a number of weeks or months is
considered normal. But, this can be prevented or reduced to just days or only a week of this
unwanted feelings by rubbing the disgorged matter on the stomach 3x and in a downward
direction.
During the first 3 months of pregnancy, one can determine the gender of the fetus inside. If
it positions itself at the left, it is a boy. On the other hand, if it positions on the right, it is a
girl. This belief is said to be true and proven for many mothers.
Giving birth at the house is now prohibited. She should deliver her baby at the center or at
the hospital. Failure to obey this rule means a penalty with a certain cost.
45
Abortion
It is rare that hilots attend to unwanted pregnancies. The Subanen performs abortion only if
it is really necessary as in the case of a life and death situation. Healers admit that there are
several species whose roots are good as abortifacient. However this is strictly prohibited as
it is a cause for great sin to be committed.
Female Puberty and Menstruation

For a girls first menstruation, a senanan (lihi) must be performed. She must put a white
orchid flower on a glass of water and she must drink and wash her face every morning with
it. In taking a bath, she must also put this flower and an egg on the water she will use. She
must continually perform this for 3 days. This is a belief for her to stay beautiful and have
fair and fine-looking skin. Also, she must drink the dews from a gabi leaf so that she could
not experience metrorrhagia, an irregular uterine bleeding especially between menstrual
period and her monthlies will only last for 3 days. These senanan (lihi) must be done for a
regular menstruation.
Eating sour foods before and during menstruation must be avoided because it may impede
the flow of blood and will cause dysmenorrhea.
46
9 Traditional healers of Salambuyan
EMITA ANDAGAO
Emita Andagao was born on the 20th of September 1965. She is presently 47 years old and is
a mother of eight children who she said she gave birth to on her own, being a hilot herself
without much difficulty. She inherited the knowledge of taking care of a pregnant woman
and assisting in child deliveries from her mother who likewise inherited it from her
ancestors. She gives herbal medicines for shenanan (lihi), relapse, prevention and cure and
for ease of delivery, as well as share information to those who seeks her help. Since home
delivery is strictly prohibited at present, her assistance is sought by the pregnant at the
health center or hospital during the latters labor pains and actual delivery. Aside from being
a hilot, Emita also does body massage to those who seek her help especially those known to
suffer from epigastric pain and abdominal discomfort which the locals describe as panuhot
and kararak (kabuhi).
47
MARLITA CODION
Marlita is a resident of Purok Wani, Salambuyan. She is a 50 year-old trained hilot who
gained her wisdom from seminars she has attended. She has been given this chance as a
result of her constant assistance whenever certain complaints are referred to the center.
Her 30 years experience of using medicinal plants has helped in various medical
emergencies that the communities consider as usual complaints such as cough, fever and
pains.
48
DALMACIO HUMPA SR.
Dalmacio Humpa Sr. is a father of two children and a grandfather of 3. He luckily married a
good and affectionate wife, Violeta, who come from a family of healers. As the breadwinner
of the family, he engages himself in operating power saw which provide the needs of her
loved ones.
Through the teachings of his father, Dalmacio, he likewise became an albularyo or herbalist
and is active for the last 25 years up to the present. Accordingly, being a healer is not that
easy. Though you like to help and cure an ill person, looking and getting the needed plants
are quite difficult especially if a certain plant can only be found in a very secluded place.
There are plants that are guarded by spirits in the form of animals. He had an experience
wherein he was able to sleep while waiting for a snake to move away from the plant he
intended to get. He also experienced being scolded by his forefather in a dream because he
had unwittingly revealed to the researchers the name of the plants but failed to warn them
not to uproot any without asking the permission from the owners which are unseen.
49
The researchers at dalmacios house which served as the researchers home for a month.
It was in Dalmacios house where the researchers lived for one month. It was here where
the latter witnessed how Dalmacio obtained a part of or uproot a plant. He prays silently
and buries a 25 centavo coin where the plant is situated and then gets the needed part/s.
He believed that through this practice, his respect to the owner is shown and the disease
will be cured.
50
CLARITA S. ANDUS
Clarita S. Andus is a resident of Purok Dumensit of Barangay Salambuyan. She came into this
world in the year 1948 during the 31th day of December. She married a Subanon from
Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte and sired 5 children. She is 64 yerars old, now a widow
and a farmer who tends to her kaingin. She became known as an herbalist when ever
residents get well from a snake bite. She claims to have delivered many children and her
role as a birth attendant is untarnished in the last 30 years. She makes decoctions of
different herbal plants as liniment to treat sprains, panuhot and kararak (kabuhi) which are
proven to be effective. She also prepares a decoction of coconut oil and parts of selected
plants as cure for patients who are poisoned by their fellow Lapuyanos.
51
JAMES M. LUSAY
James M. Lusay is an 80 year old farmer. He is happily living in with his wife Marina and
some of his 7 children. He fixes bones of sprained patients and cure people with herbal
medications for 70 years. He got his healing knowledge from his grandfather and he shared
this to selected locals of Salambuyan.
52
ROMULO A. DUMIAL
Romulo was born on February 15, 1951. He is a farmer and a believer of Roman Catholic.
With his wife Anita and 9 children, he combats the challenges in life by means of farming.
Romulo is a gbelyan( a shaman priest ) for 40 years and he shares that becoming a gbelyan
is never through experience but through inheritance.
MAX T. LIWASAG
Max was born on the 8th of October of the year 1933. He is a resident of Purok Nangka of
Salambuyan. He is a farmer and has his rice field as the surroundings of his house. His wife
Anghelita delivered Maxs children, a boy and a girl. Max is a gbelyan for 40 years. Just like
other shaman priest, he does his obligation dutifully.
53
10 Materia Medica
This study was able to document a total of 132 plants and 3 natural products used by the
Subanen. The common plants used are Malabanos or Guyabano in Filipino and Thalon or
Guyabano in Filipino. Malabanos can treat 7 types of diseases like kidney problem, use to
lower blood sugar and cancer while Thalon is used to treat 6 types of diseases. In some
cases, a mixture of plants is used to cure a particular condition. Decoction is the most
common preparation used by the Subanen.
The researcher recorded 39 plants for herbarial compendium of selected medicinal plants
used by Subanen. The plants that are included in herbarial compendium are classified as
uncollected, unidentified and no common names.
There are 2 noted rituals and practices of the Subanen, Phengende "Sumpa" is an example
of Subanen practice. It is done to make the mother and baby healthy, to prevent poison
inflicted by other person.
For local terminology of conditions and treatments, a total of 7 are noted. Pagan is one of
the examples of local condition that can be treated by using dlebok, dolamon and dila-rila.
54
Bibliography
Apatan KF. Lapuyan, the Little America of the Zamboanga Peninsula: A story of the
Lapuyan Subanen and the American impact (1912-2011). Mindanao State University Marawi
City: 2012.
Asama AC. Subanen dances of Lapuyan [PhD thesis]. University of the Philippines- Diliman
Quezon City: 2012.
Cresswell JW. Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and
qualitative research. Third edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458: Pearson
Education, Inc; 2008.
Georsua RC. An overview of the Subanen traditional music arts. Culture and peace studies. A
Journal of Ateneo de Zamboanga University; 2(1):47-55.
Hapalla JGH. An introduction to Subanen culture. Culture and peace studies. A Journal of
Ateneo de Zamboanga University. 2002;2(1):1-11.
Imbing VL. The Subanen becklog: Lapuyan description. Culture and peace studies. A Journal
of Ateneo de Zamboanga University. 2(1):23-30.
Suminguit Vel J. Pictorial book of culturally important plants among the Subanen
(Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur). Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines: Pagsalabuhan Subanen sa
Lakewood Association; 2005.
Enriquez A. Subaans: The culture of the Subanans: their mythology, their beliefs and rituals
and prayers. Quezon City, Philippines: UP Press; 1999.
Frake CO. The diagnosis among the Subanu of Mindanao. Am Anthropol 1961, Feb; 63: 113132.
Rubite R, Sia I, Co L. Ethnopharmacologic documentation of selected Philippine
Ethnolinguistic groups: The Mangyan (Tadyawan) People of Mindoro Island. Manila:
University of the Philippines; 2001.
55

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Phase II Documentation of Philippine Traditional Knowledge and Practices on Health and

Development of Traditional Knowledge Digital Library on Health for Selected

REPORT PREPARED BY:

Table 1. A list of some Philippine ethnolinguistic groups

Selection of key informants

4. willingness to serve even for a short period of time

Figure 2. An interview with Mr. Francis Duhaylungsod, an incharge of the Department of

To understand best the patterns of the Subanens culture, the researcher-ethnographer

2 The land and the people

Figure3. Map showing the location of Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur

Figure 5. Map Showing the Location of Barangay Salambuyan

Access to the area

3 Historical perspective of Lapuyan and Salambuyan

Figure 6. Timuay Langhap Lantoy L. Imbing, a descendant of Thimuay Mbeng

Foods for special occasions

Wake and Interment

Figure 11. Subanen children wearing their Subanen costume

Figure 12. A typical Subanen house

Figure 13. Musical Instruments Used by the Subanen of Lapuyan

Sot a dance performed by a male with a dlasag, a long shield

Figure 15 Glimpse of courtship dance

Gbayuk- love song

Pathedil and diena- debate songs of children

Dlonli- adult song of Subanen

Diamatan- singing games

Gabenaben- song of nature

Accordingly, polyandry exists because of the following reasons:

Death and burial

7 Beliefs and practices (Hapalla, 2002)

The Becklog Menonot

8 Knowledge and practices on health

Concepts of health and illness

Causes of illness and death

Kalibagud- this potion is said to have an effect to an angry person

Phugay- this is the love potion

Kalimo- a kind of lumay used to agree on a request

Phensalay- this lumay is used for people to like a person

Panantoy- a potion used in hunting wild animals and in fishing

Local terminology of conditions and treatments used by Subanen of Salambuyan

Knowledge and practices on pregnancy and giving birth

Female Puberty and Menstruation

9 Traditional healers of Salambuyan

DALMACIO HUMPA SR.

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